Item counter for computing



Oct.24, 1950 R. E. BOYDEN ET AL ITEM COUNTER FOR COMPUTING MACHINES 6Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 9, 1947 FT 4 E 2 1:15 Q Al q H M M TIE lINVENTORS Paar/er E Hams/v Wm? 701v A. P4250;

A T TOPNE Y Oct. 24, 1950 R. E. BOYDEN AL ITEM COUNTER FOR COMPUTINGMACHINES 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 9, 1947 5 N u my \N w N A E I N N 70W W F W N 0 5 Y B QQ\ Oct. 24, 1950 BQYDEN E 2,527,241

ITEM COUNTER FOR COMPUTING MACHINES Filed May 9, 1947 6 Sheets-Sheet 3FIG. E

IN V EN TOR.

Fuse-Pr! YDEN Wmemv A. new:

XWM

A TTOPNE Y Oct. 24, 1950 R. E. BOYDEN ET AL ITEM COUNTER FOR COMPUTINGMACHINES 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed May 9, 1947 INVENTORJ Peat-or tT BavazuM-mvnw 4. P4050615 n N w T T A Oct. 24, 1950 R. E. BOYDEN EIAL mmCOUNTER FOR COMPUTING MACHINES 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed May 9, 1947 IN VENTOR-5 N E m 5 5 w W WHAP MA! A. 84050:

A TTOPNE Y Oct. 24, 1950 R. E. BOYDEN ETAL ITEM COUNTER FORCOMPUTING'MACHINES 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed May 9, 1947 INVENTORS Foam? f.Boron WHAPTON A. PARSONS nwomwnovno QYQQQQQ T TFHO "1' Patented Oct. 24,1950 ITEM COUNTER FOR COMPUTING MACHINES Robert E. Boyden, Los Angeles,and Wharton A. Parsons, Glendale, Califi, assignors to Clary MultiplierCorporation, Los Angeles, Calif., a

corporation of California Application May 9, 1947, Serial No. 747,018

12 Claims.

The present invention relates to adding and listing machines, cashregisters and the like and has particular reference to item countingand/or tax computing devices for such machines.

As is Well known, it is oftendesirable in using machines of the abovetype, to obtain the total number of the items which are listed in anyone group or for any one customer. Generally, this is accomplished byproviding a counter section into which the unit 1 is added in each entryof the value of an item into the machine. Upon a totalling operation,the total accumulated on the item counter section is totalled out alongwith the normal totalling of the accumulated item values, these totalsbeing printed side by side on the paper tape. However, several problemsarise in connection with certain types of operations which materiallycomplicate the arrangement control of the item count. For example, itmay be desirable to subtract amounts from the accumulator oraccumulators without adding or subtracting such item from the countersection. Again, it is often desirable to enter a federal, state or citytaX or the like which is due for a lot or quantity of items in order todetermine the total without entering such item on the counter. Also, itis undesirable to accumulate item counts when false entries are made inthe machine due, for example, to inadvertent adding operations occurringwhen no values are set up on the keyboard.

Accordingly, one object of the present invention is to provide an itemcounting device which will accumulate a count of certain added itemsonly.

Another object is to render the item counting device ineffective tocount the entry of tax, duty or the like items.

A further object is to print the total of a number of items being listedalong with the total of the values of such items while eliminating theprinting of the unit 1 for each item during the printing of the value ofsuch item.

A further object is to disable the item counting device when no item isentered in the keyboard.

A further object is to eliminate any load on the item keys or on theracks in sensing the entry of an item in the machine.

A further object is to reduce the amount of revision necessary in orderto incorporate an item counting feature in a standard adding machine.

The present invention accomplishes its functions with a simple revisionof the machine and for thispurpose certain orders of the accumulator andprinting mechanisms are reserved for item counting. The entry of theunit 1 in the item counting section of the accumulator is effected by atens transfer operation so that the same mechanism that is used totransfer tens is also utilized to effect an item count.

The manner in which the above and other objects of the invention areaccomplished will be readily understood on reference to the followingspecification when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings,wherein;

Flg. 1 is a plan view of an adding machine embodying the presentinvention.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view, with parts broken away, of themachine.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary front view of part of the controlmeans for enabling zeros to be printed to the right of the lowestsignificant digit of the value being printed and for segregating theitem counter section from the item value printing section.

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view through the accumulator unit andis taken substantially along the line 4-4 of Fig. 6.

Fig. 5 is a transverse view similar to that of Fig. 4, such showing atens transfer actuator in condition to effect a tens transfer in anadditive direction.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary front view illustrating a portion of theaccumulator.

Ffg. 7 is a longitudinal sectional view illustrating the clutch andsymbol printing controls.

Fig. 8 is a longitudinal sectional view illustrating the accumulatorpositioning controls.

Fig. 9 is a longitudinal sectional view illustrating the item countingdevice controls.

Fig. 10 shows a sample tape as printed by the mechanism of the presentinvention.

The particular embodiment of the invention disclosed here'n is adaptedto the well known commercially available Clary adding machine which isdisclosed and claimed in the copending application of R. E. Boyden, S.N. 582,553, filed March 13, 1945, while the partcular accumulatingmechanism of the Clary adding machine is disclosed and claimed in thecopending application of E. P. Drake, S. N. 582,554, filed March 13,1945, now patent number 2,472,696, issued June '7, 1949.

Since the machine to which the present invention is applied is generallydisclosed in the above mentioned Boyden and Drake applications and isfound in the commercially available Clary adding machine, only thoseportions of the machine which relate to the present invention will bedis closed in detail. Reference is had to said applications fordisclosure of a complete adding machine including mechanisms notspecifically disclosed herein. However, it is to be understood that theinvention is not limited to the machine disclosed in said applications.

Referring to Fig. 1, the machine includes a series of banks of amountkeys 9 on which the various amounts to be entered in the machine areset. Arranged around the amount keys are a series of control keys andbars including a clear key I for releasing any erroneously depressedkeys 9, a repeat bar IE, two add bars It and II, a subtract bar I3, taxentry bar i l for adding tax values, etc., into the machine, a subtotalbar I8, and a. total bar ii. The construction and arrangement of thekeyboard formed by the above indicated keys control bars is di closedand claimed in the following copending applications: C and Boyden, S. N.D. 123,- 664, filed No er. 1%, 1945, now Patent Number Des. M53453, eBoyden, S. N. 71322;, filed December 30, 1946, now Patent Number2,495,832, issued January 31, 1950.

General construction Each order of the me. he comprises nine depressibleamount keys 5 aranged to differentially control the extent of movementof an aligned rack I9 from its home or zero position shown in Fig. 2.Each key 9, when depressed, positions its stem 29 in place to a rest a.coacting shoulder '52 on the associated rack when the latter has beenadvanced forwardly (to the left in Fig. 2) a number of increments equalto the value of the depressed key. Also, each key, when depressed, actsthrough devices disclosed in said Boyden application, N. to retract azero stop 62 from in front of one of the shoulders ls. However, as iscommon practice in adding machines of this type, there is no row ofamount :eys p ovided 'or the arithmetically highest order of the chine.

The racks IS are uided through their fore and aft movement by its '59and El, slidably fitted within slots lee 8%, respectively, in each rack.

For the purpos. of diiferentiaily driving racks, the shaft is movedsideways, by n" not shown, along slots F3 in machine side frames and isyielda'cly connected to each rack by pairs of opposed drive elements ?6carried by the shaft and having rollers '55 which normally engage inlateral depressions formed at the closed end of the slot in therespective rack. A spring 5? urges the el ents it to normally hold therollers 55 in the d ressions in slots T38 until the respective rack isarrested by the zero stop 42 or by a depressed or by an accumulatorelement as w ll appear hereinafter.

The aforementioned yieldable drive means is disclosed and claimed in thecopending application of Boyden, S. 1?. 718,566, filed December 2'7,1946, now Patent Number 2,490,236, issued December 6, 1949.

Each rack is provided with a pair of rack gear sections $3 and extendingon diametrically opposite sides of ordinall arranged accumulator elementgears 35. During a or subtracting operations the various accumulatorgears 25 will be raised or lowered, respectively, into mesh with theassociated rack g sections so that they will be rotated in theappropriate direction during the forward movement of the racks while,

during the return of the racks, the gears will be held in their neutralpositions illustrated in Fig. 2. During totalling operations, the gearsare held in mesh with the lower rack gear sections 84 during forwardmovement of the racks only, while during sub-totalling operations thegears are held in mesh with the rack gear sections 84 during forward andreturn movement of the racks.

The various values registered on racks 59 during either item entering ortotalling operations are printed on a paper tape (Figs. 2 and 10) whichis fed from a roll (not shown), around a platen I2 to a printing pointat which the values are printed thereon.

The printer comprises a series of numeral printing dials I35, one foreach rack it. Each dial has thereon a series of type i-ai "ng from 0 to9 and these dials are so connected to the associated racks that the willprint the it corresponding to the'value oi the key depressed in theassociated order or to the numerical position to which the rack is movedin its forward stroke. It should be noted at this point that the twohighermost dials, racks I9 and gears 85 are reserved to form the itemcount section.

Each dial is rotatably mounted on 21 separate lever which is looselykeyed on a print- 1. the

:03 or control shaft i3? and is spring urged clockwise by a tensionspring I38. A gear I39 fixed to each dial is permanently meshed with agear also 'rotatably mounted on the associated lever I36. Except duringthe printing operation, the levers I36 are held in their positionsillustrated in Fig. 2 wherein the gear Hail meshes with an aligned oneof a series of idler gears MI rotatably mounted on a cross shaft I42.The lat ter idlers are continuously entrained with respective ones ofthe drive racks I9 through a series of pinion assemblies I753, thedetails of which are not deemed necessary to disclose herein.

During the printing phase, and after the racks have digitized theprinter and the accumulator, or have been positioned under control ofthe accumulator, the printer control shaft I3! is rocked clockwise bymeans not shown, permitting springs I38 to rock the printer arms I36 ofcertain of the dials I35 and thus carry the printing dials forward intocontact with a printing ribbon I44 and the paper strip 8, whereby toprint the number registered on the dials onto the paper at the printingstation.

Means are provided to prevent printing of zeros to the left of thehighest significant digit in a value being printed, except the total ofan item count as will be explained hereinafter, while enabling all ofthe zeros to the right thereof to be printed. For this purpose, a latchI52 (Figs. 2 and 3) is provided adjacent each lever I36 and isjournalled on a cross rod I53 extending through cams slots I54 in thevarious gears MI. The latches I52 are urged clockwise by springs I55 andare provided with ears I51, each adapted to normally overlie a foot I58extending forwardly from the aligned lever I36. A roller I55 on eachlatch rides in the cam slot I54. When the associated idler I4I' andprinting dial I35 are retained in zero position the contour of the camslot enables the spring I55 to rock the latch I52 into its positionillustrated in Fig. 2. In this position, the latch overlies the foot I58of lever I36 and thus prevents the latter from being rocked intoprinting contact with the paper during a printing operation. However,when any idler gear I4! is rotated to its "1 or any other position, itscam slot I54 will rock the associated latch outwardly, enabling theassociated lever I36 to be subsequently rocked into printing position.

For the purpose of printing all zeros to the right of the lowestsignificant digit, each of the latches I52 is provided with an ear I60overlying the corresponding ear on the lever to the left. Therefore,when any latch is rocked outwardly by its gear I4I', all of the latchesI52 to the right 7 Accumulator The accumulator is of the twodirectional, subsequent transfer type and is disclosed in detail inFigs. 4, 5 and 6.

The accumulator comprises in general a pair of parallel shafts 86 and81, both rotatably mounted in bearings formed in a series of ordinallyspaced brace plates Ib rigidly held in spaced relation to each other bysuitable interlocking combs I'Ib well known in the art.

The shaft 86 carries the hereinbefore mentioned accumulator elementgears 85 and the shafts 86 and 81 are guided for vertical movement inslots, one of which is shown at 94 (Fig. 8) formed in machine sideplates at opposite sides of the machine, one being shown partially at24.

Since each gear 85 comprises ten teeth, it will move through one toothspace during each increment of advance of its associated drive rack I9.

As each gear 85 moves through one revolution or ten tooth spaces as aresult of accumulating ten digits, it conditions a transfer mechanism tosubsequently enter one digit into the gear 85 of the next arithmeticallyhigher order to the left. For this purpose, a transfer pawl I 50 isprovided, being capable of rotating its associated gear an increment ofone tooth space in either direction, depending on the type of operationbeing performed.

Each pawl I50 surrounds its associated gear 85 and is pivoted at I I50on a cam follower lever I60 pivotally supported on the lower shaft 81.Lever I60 is provided with a roller I'6I adapted to be engaged and movedby an aligned one of a series of transfer cams I 80 arranged in ahelical path on a transfer shaft 30 as shown in Fig. 9.

The pawl I50 is provided with three detents I10, the central one ofwhich is normally engaged by the roller II9a of a centralizer lever Il'9pivoted on a stud 20 attached to the associated brace plate I0 andpressed against the pawl by a spring I2I extending between thecentralizer and a second stud on the brace plate so as to normally holdthe pawl in its central position shown in Fig. 4 wherein it isineffective to cause a transfer. The centralizer H9 is also adapted tohold the pawl I50 in an additive transfer condition shown in Fig. or asubtractive transfer condition (not shown) in which the lower detent ofthe pawl would be engaged thereby. Also, the 7 centralizer normallymaintains the pawl in its rearward position shown in Figs. 4 and 5wherein the lever I60 rests against the adjacent comb I Ia, thecentralizer being capable of returning the pawl to such position after atransferring operation.

A centralizer pawl 32 is also pivoted on each stud 20 and is springpressed against the respective gear 85 to yieldably locate the same inany of its ten possible locations.

' Each gear 85, as it rotates in a counter-clockwise direction from its9 position (not shown) to its 0 position illustratedin Figs. 4 and 5during an additive operation, carries a tooth 23 attached integrallythereto into engagement with an ear 24 formed on the pawl I50 which islocated in the next arithmetically higher order, thus rocking the pawlsdownwardly about its pivot H50 toward its additive transferring positionshown in Fig. 5. As the pawl approaches its lowermost position, thecentralizer H9 becomes effective to fully move the pawl thereinto.

In the fully conditioned position of pawl I56, a transfer tooth 28thereon is located directly behind a tooth of the associated gear 85 sothat in a subsequent transfer phase in which the cams I are rotatedthrough a complete revolution, the cam follower arms 160 are rocked toadvance the pawls I50. Thus the tooth 28 will engage and drive the gearone tooth space in a counter-clockwise or additive direction.

Likewise, during a subtractive operation, and when an accumulator gear85 rotates clockwise from a' 0 position to a 9 position the tooth 23thereof will strike the ear 24 of the associated transfer pawl, movingthe latter into an upper position. Thereupon, a transfer tooth 28a onthe pawl is positioned opposite a tooth near the bottom of gear 85 sothat when the pawl I50 is subsequently moved forward during thetransferring phase the transferring tooth will advance the gear onetooth space in a subtractive direction.

It should be noted that during additive, subtractive and totallingoperations, the accumulator will be disengaged from the racks i. e. it

will be returned to its neutral position as shown in Fig. 2, prior tothe transfer phase which oc curs late in the machine cycle. Therefore,at the end of the digitizing phase of the cycle, the pawls I50 in allorders which are to receive a tens transfer will be conditioned orlocated in an upper or lower position depending on the type ofoperation, and the gears will be completely demeshed from the racks I9.

It will be recalled that the accumulator is split to form, in effect,two separate accumulators. In this case the two highermost orders of themachine are reserved for the item counting feature. For this purpose,the transfer tooth 23 on the gear associated with the third highestorder gear 85 is out off as shown at 23a in Fig. 6 to render the gear 85of this order ineffective to cause a transfer to be made into the itemcounter section.

Machine controls ter is controlled by a clutch dog 58 pivoted at I 59and so arranged to clutch the shaft 5| to the drive gear 56 when theclutch dog is rocked counter-clockwise from its position in Fig. 7. Theclutch dog is connected by a pin and slot connection 221 to a clutchcontrol bar 228 supported for a longitudinal movement by a pair ofparallel links 229 pivotally supported on frame pins 230. A spring 228anormally maintains the bar 228 in a rearward position shown in Fig. 7 tohold the dog 58 in clutch disengaging position. The bar 226 has four camslots 231 formed therein, each of which underlies a pin 232 carried on alever 233 pivoted on a frame pin 234 and urged upwardly by a tensionspring 235. The various pins 232, underlie the subtract, tax, sub-totaland total bar stems l3, l4, l8 and 11, respectively. Therefore,depression of any of these bars will cause the associated pin 232 to camthe clutch control bar 228 forwardly to eflfect engagement of the clutch51.

Provision is also made to effect engagement of the clutch upondepression of such other bars as the front add bar 19 (Fig. 2). The keystems 19a of the add bar 6 have openings therein embracing a rod 156secured to arms l6! carried by a rockable shaft and spring urged in acounterclockwise direction to normally hold the add bar If) in itsillustrated raised position. The rod I80 also overlies a cam surface 249(Fig. '2) on the forward end of bar 228 so that depression of the addbar will cause the rod I60 to move down over the cam surface and thusmove the bar 228 forwardly, thereby to cause engagement ofthe clutch.

Accumulator positioning controls As mentioned hereinbefore, theaccumulator is raised or lowered to mesh the accumulator gears 85 withupper or lower rack gear sections of the drive racks, depending upon thetype of operation to be performed. For this purpose, mechanism isprovided which is under control of the different control bars fordetermining and effecting the positioning of the accumulator.

Referring to Fig. 8, the accumulator shaft 86 has a pair of rollers, oneof which is shown at 91, rotatably mounted on opposite ends thereof andeach is embraced by a cam groove 96 formed in a box cam 94 which ispivoted on a frame stud 85. Suitable means (not shown) is provided totransfer movement from the cam 94 shown in Fig. 8 to the like cam at theopposite end of the accumulator. Clockwise rocking of the cam 94 willlower the accumulator into its subtractive position whilecounter-clockwise rocking thereof from its illustrated position willraise the accumulator to its additive position.

The cam 94 carries a pair of pins 251 and 25B arranged on the oppositesides of the frame pin 95. These pins are adapted to be selectivelyengaged by a hook member 259 connected to a three arm cam follower 256which is pivoted on the shaft 8!. The cam follower is urgedcounterclockwise by a spring 25I to press a roller 263 on another armthereof against a cam 264 keyed on the drive shaft 51. tion extendingover substantially half of its periphery whereby to rock the camfollower 260 and thereby to move the hook member 259 rearward and holdit in a rearward position during approximately the first half of themachine cycle. Normally, during additive operations or when the machineis at rest, the hook member 259 is raised by tension spring 265 wherebya slot 266 therein embraces the upper pin 251 so that as the hook ismoved rearward it will rock the cam 94 clockwise to raise theaccumulator into its additive position.

Cam 264 has a high por- For the purpose of locating the hook member 259in a lowermost position, a control bar 261 is provided, being supportedfor longitudinal movement by a pair of parallel links 268 pivotallysupported on frame pins 269. The bar 261 has three camming surfacesformed thereon and underlying the aforementioned pins 232 which areoperable by the subtract bar 13, the subtotal bar 18 and the total bar11. The bar 261 is connected by a pin and slot connection 211 to abellcrank 212 pivoted at 213 and having a pin 214 on the opposite endthereof which is embraced by a slot formed in the hook member 259.

The camming surfaces 210 of the bar 261 are so arranged that upondepression of any of the bars [3, 18 or 11, the control bar 261 will bemoved forwardly to cause bellcrank 212 to lower the hook member 259until a slot 215 therein will embrace the pin 258 so that subsequentrearward movement of the hook member will place the accumulator into itslower or subtractive position.

It will be noted that no, camming surface is provided on the bar 261 inassociation with the pin 232 of the tax bar 14 so that depression of thelatter will not disturb the additive setting of the accumulatorconditioning mechanism.

During an additive or subtractive operation and after the high portionof the cam 266 has passed the roller 263, which occurs before the returnof the drive racks, the spring 261 will become effective to return thehook 259 to its foremost position (as shown in Fig. 8) and therebylocate box cam 94 in its neutral position to likewise return theaccumulator into its neutral position shown in Fig. 2. A centralizerlever 216 pivoted at 211 is spring urged into engagement with the loweredge of the cam 94 to centralize the same in its neutral position.

In totalling operations, the accumulator is returned to zero during thefirst part of the operating cycle and is then placed in a neutralposition before return of the racks in the same manner as normaladdition and subtraction operations, while in sub-totalling operationsthe accumulator is returned to zero during the first part of the cycleand is then again reset at its former accumulated value during thelatter part of the cycle. Therefore, it is necessary in the latteroperation to maintain the accumulator in mesh with the drive racks 19until the latter have returned from their forward strokes. To this end,a second cam 219 is mounted on the shaft 51 adjacent the cam 264 and isprovided with a high portion around the greater part of the peripherythereof. This cam engages a roller 263 mounted on the lower end of asecond bellcrank 28! also pivoted on shaft 81 and urgedcounter-clockwise by a spring 1265.

A slot 282 is formed in a rearwardly extending arm of bellcrank 23f andlies coextensive with a slot 283 formed in the cam follower 260. However, it will be noted that the slot 282 is somewhat shorter than theslot 283. A pin 284 carried by a link 285 rides within one or both ofthe slots 282 and 283, depending upon the position of the linklongitudinally of the machine. The link 285 is connected to the lowerend of the lever 233 associated with the sub-total bar it. Thus, whenthe bar [8 is in its raised ineffective position shown in Fig. 8, thepin 264 will lie solely in the slot 283 of cam follower 260 and the earn264 will be effective to control positioning of the accumulator.However, upon depression of the bar !8, the .pin 284 will be movedforwardly to locate within both the slots 282 and 283. In thiscondition, i. e., during a sub-totalling operation, the two followers260 and 28! will move as a unit and the cam 219 will therefore, throughthe hook member 259, hold the accumulator engaged with the drive racks!9 throughout both their forward and return strokes.

Referring to Figs. 4 and 5, a series of ordinally spaced stop levers 286are keyed on the shaft 8'! and during totalling andsub-totallingoperations, are rocked into blocking positions relative tozero locating ears 28'! carried by the associated accumulator gears 85.

The zero stop levers 286 are rocked into blocking position by powerunder control of the bars l and !8, and in order to accomplish this anarm 288 (Fig. 8) is keyedto the shaft 8'! and is connected through a pinand slot connection 289 to a floating lever 290 which rides on thestationary frame pin 21! and is connected at its forward end to the link292, the upper end of which is connected to-a cross link 293intermediate its ends. The link 293 is pivotally connected to the pins232 under lying the bars I! and !8. Thus, upon depression of either ofthe bars, the link 292 will be lowered sufficiently to rock lever 29!!counter-clockwise about the pin 21'! to position a shoulder 294 thereonin the path of a pin 295 carried by the bellcrank 28!. Now, when thebellcrank is rocked at the beginning of a total or sub-total operationthe pin 295 will drive the lever 29!! forwardly, rocking the shaft 8!against the action of a spring 29! to likewise rock the levers 286 intoblocking position.

Means not shown are provided to retract the various zero stops 42 (Fig.2) upon depression of the total and sub-total control bars. Thus, as themachine continues its cycle, the racks will be driven forward, rotatingthe accumulator gears 86 in a subtractive direction until they arestopped in zero positions by contact of the ears 28'! on gears 85 withthe levers 286. The racks will therefore stand in positions mechanicallyrepresenting the value previously registered by the accumulator and.will consequently cause the the printer dials to register this value.

Symbol printing In order to indicate on the paper tape the type offactor or value being printed, an appropriate symbol is printedalongside each value which is the result of a total, sub-total, taxentry or subtract operation.

Referring to Fig. '7, a symbol controlled rack 324 is provided havingtwo elongated slots 325 and !80b, the former guided over a frame stud32'! and the latter embracing the shaft 8!. A spring .328 urges the rackforwardly against the aforementioned rack drive shaft 10. A series ofshoulders 330 are formed on the rack and eachis adapted to engage acontrol bar actuated pin 232 upon depression of its respective controlbar. The shoulders 330 are spaced apart distances somewhat greater thanthe distances between the of a printer dial assembly. The latter issimilar in all respects to the various numeral dialassemblies describedhereinbefore except that symbol type "appropriate to the type ofoperation being performed are formed on the periphery of the dial inplace of the numeral characters. Also, there is no ear 5'50 formed onthe latch !52 for this dial assembly.

Means are provided for preventing the symbol rack 324 from advancingwhen an addition operation is being performed it being desired not toprint a symbol during such additionoperation. For this purpose, a latch335 (Fig. '7) is pivoted on a frame stud 335 and is urged clockwis intolatching engagement with a pin 335 on the rack 324 by a spring 340 (Fig.8) tensioned between a pin 33'! on the latch 334 and the pin 232associated with the sub-total control bar !8. The pin 33'! fits in anotch 338 formed in the accumulator positioning control car 5281.Therefore, upon an adding operation initiated by the add bar !0, the bar26'! will not move and hence, the latch 334 will remain in latchingposition to prevent a substantial movement of the symbol rack at thattime. However, during subtraction, total and subtotalling operations,the bar 251 will be actuated by the respective control bar and the latch334 will consequently be raised against the action of its spring 340 topermit the rack 32-! to follow the rack drive shaft !6 until stopped bthe depressed pin 232 so as to register the printing mechanismaccordingly.

Tare entry As mentioned hereinbefore, a tax entry bar !4 is provided forentering tax, duty and the like items set up on the amount keys 9. Itwill be noted on reference to Figs. 7 and 8 that the tax bar initiatesoperation of the machine in the same manner as the other bars !3, !l and!8 since the pin 232 underlying the same is adapted to actuate theclutch control bar 228 to cause engagement of the cyclic clutch 51.Also, there is no connection between the tax bar and the accumlatorconditioning control bar 25! and con sequently the hook member 259 willbe allowed to remain in its additive control position shown in Fig. 8 toeffect an additive entry of any tax item.

However, the tax bar, effects printing of an appropriate symbol as shownat 350 (Fig. 10) even though it has no control over the bar 261. Forthis purpose, a cam slide 35! is pivoted on the pin 33! of latch 334 andis provided with a guide slot 352 which guides over the hub 353 of thelever 233 cooperating with bar !4. Thepin 232 of the aforementionedlever 233 overliesa camming surface 210a of the slide so that depressionof bar !4 will force the slide 35! forwardly toremove the latch 334(Fig. 7) from latching engagement with the pin 336 on the symbol controlrack 324, enabling the latter to move forward until the second shoulder33% from the left strikes the tax bar controlled pin 232 whereby toregister the symbol printing device to print the tax symbol.

Item counting According to the present invention and as statedhereinbefore, the machine is arranged to count the number of itemsadditively entered into the machine by splitting the accumulator andprinter into two sections, reserving the two arithmetically highermostorders for item counting. Such item counting, in which the unit 1 isentered into the item counter section of the accumulator during eachadditive machine operation in which an item value is entered is effectedby a false tens transfer operation initiated into the units order of thecounter section. The machine is arranged to render such entryineffective if the entry is a tax item and/or if a machine operation ofthe additive type is made without an item set up on the keyboard.

For this purpose, an arm 300 (Figs. 6 and 9) is fixed on a rockableshaft 301 and is arranged with an ear 299 thereof in alignment with thetransfer pawl 150a of the units order of the counter section. Also fixedon shaft 301 is a bellcrank 332, the assembly thus formed being normallyheld clockwise against the crossrod 8| by a spring 303 extending betweenthe bellcrank 302 and a second bellcrank 305 freely rotatable on theshaft 301. The latter has a camming surface 306 which extends in thepath of a pin 30'! carried b a disc 308 which is fixed to theaforementioned cyclic drive shaft 51.

On the lower end of lever 305 is pivoted a bellcrank 309, one end ofwhich is connected to the bellcrank 302 by a yieldable link assembly310. The latter comprises a pair of overlapping links 311 and 312connected to the bellcranks 302 and 309, respectively. A pair of studs313 extend from the former link through an elongated slot 314 in link312, and a spring 315 is tensioned between one of said studs and apivotal connection between the link 312 and bellcrank 309 to normallyhold the link assembly in the collapsed condition shown in Fig. 9. Theother end of bellcrank 303 is connected by a link Slfi to a bail 31'1pivoted on a cross shaft 3 8.

The flange 319 of the bail 311 extends across the machine and underthose racks 19 which are associatedwith the item value entering ordersonly of the accumulator. The racks 19 have shoulders 320 which, whensaid racks are in their zero or home positions (shown in Figs. 2 and 9),are located slightly to the rear of the flanges 319, permitting the bailto be rocked counter-clockwise of its illustrated position. of saidracks is moved forward one or more increments, its shoulder 320 willmove over the flange 319, preventing subsequent rocking movement of thebail.

It will be noted that the aforementioned arrangement for sensing theentry of an. item value into the machine does not impose any load uponeither the keys 9 or the racks 19.

As mentioned hereinbefore, during an additive operation, the accumulatorwill be raised to mesh the accumulator gears 35 with the rack gearsections 83 (Fig. 2) of the racks !9. Consequently, the tens transferpawls 150 will be likewise raised, while in neutral posit ons shown inFig. 4, to positions indicated by the dot and dash lines 150 of Fig. 9.If during such additive operatio s an item has been entered into thekeyboard, one or more of the racks 19 will have advanced forwardly,blocking the bail 31'! from rocking counter-clockwise. Thus, duringrotation of the cyclic shaft 51, the pin 30'! will strike the camsurface 306 of the bellcrank 305, rocking the same clockwise and, sincethe bellcrank 309 is prevented from rocking the bail 311, the latterbellcrank will rock counter-clockwise relative to the bellcrank 305,drawing link assembly 311 down to rock the shaft assembly includingshaft 301 and arms 300 and 302 counter-clockwise from their illustratedpositions. Therefore, the ear 299 of arm 300 will move from its fullline position to However, when any its lowered position indicated by thedot and dash lines 299', and in doing so will strike the transfer pawl1500, in the units order of the counter section of the accumulator,setting the same in an additive transfer condition. Consequently, duringthe subsequent transfer phase, the unit one will be entered into thecounter section. It should be understood that the spring 315 ismaterially stronger than the spring 303 and is thus normally effectiveto overcome the latter when the link assembly 310 is drawn downwardly.

In the event that an additive operation is initiated without an itembeing entered into the keyboard, all of the racks 19 will consequentlybe held in their home positions. As the bellcrank 305 is rockedclockwise by pin 101, the bail 311 will be rocked counter-clockwisesince the spring 303 is effective to hold bellcrank 302 and arm 300 intheir upper non-effective positions. In such positions, the transferpawl 150a will be allowed to remain in its neutral position.

In order to prevent an item count of a tax item entered into themachine, a blocking segment 360 is fixed on the aforementioned shaft 111 (see also Fig. '7) controlling the position of the symbol printingdial. During a tax entry operation the symbol printing control rack 324is rocked to advance to such a position that the shaft 111 will positionthe segment 360 in blocking relation to an ear 361 on the arm 300. Thus,the arm 300 will be blocked from moving sufficiently to set the transferpawl 150a into a transferring position, the spring 315 yielding at thistime to allow expansion of the link unit 310.

During subtract, totalling and sub-totalling operat ons the accumulatorwill be lowered into a subtractive position below that indicated by thefull lines in Fig. 9 and consequently, even though the arm 300 is rockedcounter-clockwise to its transfer initiating position, the arm will beineffective to move sufiicientl to engage transfer pawl 150a andtherefore no item count will ensue.

Upon a totalling or sub-totalling operation initiated by the controlbars 11 or 18, respectively (Fig. l) the total of the item count will beprinted to the left of the total of the item values as indicated at 365(Fig. 10).

In the machine disclosed herein to which the item counting and tax entrymechanisms are applied, the leftmost row of amount keys 9, as receivedin Fig. 1, are aligned with and control the drive rack 19 associatedwith the units order of the item counting section of the accumulator. Inorder to prevent inadvertent depression of any of the keys in this row,a cap 8a. is placed over the entire row.

It should be noted that more or less of the various orders of themachine may be apportioned to the item counting device by suitablylocating the arm 300 along shaft 301 between the particular orders atwhich the split is to occur and arranging the particular gear containingthe mutilated ear 23a in the highest order of the item value accumulatoror accumulating section.

Although I have described my invention in detail in its preferred formand therefore have utilized certain specific terms and languages herein,it is to be understood that the present disclosure is illustrativerather than restrictive, and that changes and modifications may be madewithout departing from the spirit or scope of the claims appendedhereto.

Having thus described our invention, what we 13 desire to secure byUnited States Letters Patent is:

1. In a cyclically operable calculating machine, the combination of anitem value accumulator, differentially operabl actuating mechanismtherefor, an item counter, means for entering a unit into said itemcounter, power means, an operating device operable by said power means.said operating device having two output connections operabledifferentially with respect to each other, one of said connections beingnormally operable idly and arranged to be blocked by said actuatingmechanism upon operation thereof, and the other of said connectionsbeing inoperable upon said idl operation of said first mentionedconnection and arranged to cause operation of said unit entering meansupon blocking of said first mentioned connection.

2. In a cyclically operable calculating machine, the combination of anitem value accumulator, differentially operable actuating mechanismtherefor, an item counter, means for entering a unit into said itemcounter, power means, an operating device operable by said power means,said operating device having two output connections movabledifferentially with respect to each other, one of said outputconnections being normally movable idly and arranged to be blocked bysaid actuating mechanism upon operation thereof, the other of saidconnections being arranged to cause operation of said unit enteringmeans upon blocking of said first mentioned connection, and yieldablemeans for normally blocking said other connection.

3. In a cyclically operable calculating machine, the combination of anaccumulator divided into an item value accumulating section and an itemcounting section, differentially operable actuating mechanism for saidaccumulator, mechanism for moving said accumulator into operativerelation to said actuating mechanism, means for entering a unit intosaid item counting section, power means, an operating device operable bysaid power means, said operating device having two output connectionsmovable differentially with respect to each other, one of saidconnections being normally movable idly and arranged to be blocked bysaid actuating mechanism upon operation thereof, the other of saidconnections being arranged to cause operation of said unit enteringmeans only in response to said movement of said accumulator, andyieldable means for normally blocking said last mentioned connection.

l. In a cyclically operable calculating machine, the combination of anitem value accumulator, differentially operable actuating mechanismtherefor, an item counter, means for entering a unit into said itemcounter, a differential device comprising a power operated leverarranged to fulcrum about either of two points, means controlled by saidactuating mechanism upon operation thereof for causing said lever tofulcrum about one of said points, means operably connected to said leverat the other of said points and operable upon movement of said leverabout said first mentioned point to cause operation of said unitentering means, and yieldable means normally causing said lever tofulcrum about said second mentioned point.

5. In a cyclically operable calculating machine, the combination of anitem value accumulator, actuating mechanism therefor including racksdifferentially movable from home positions, an item counter, means forentering a unit into said 14 item counter, power means, and a deviceoperable by said power means, said operating device having two outputconnections operable differentially with respect to each other, one ofsaid connections being normally operable idly and arranged to be blockedby any of said racks upon movement thereof from said home positionthereof, and the other of said connections being inoperable upon saididle operation of said first mentioned connection and arranged to causeoperation of said unit entering means upon blocking of said firstmentioned connection.

6. In a cyclically operable calculating machine, the combination of anitem value accumulator, actuating mechanism therefor including racksdifferentially movable from home positions, an item counter, means forentering a unit into said item counter, an operating device including alever, power operated means for actuating said lever at one pointthereon, a fulcruming device operatively connected to said lever at asecond point thereon and arranged to normally move idly therewith, saidfulcruming device being arranged to be blocked by any of said racks uponmovement from the home position thereof whereby to fulcrum said leverabout said second point,

operative relation to said racks, an item counter,

means for entering a unit into said item counter, and means forcontrolling said unit entering means including a sensing device movablethrough a predetermined path and adapted to be blocked from movingthrough said path by any of said racks upon movement thereof, and

means operatively connected to said sensing device and operable onlyupon blocking of said sensing device for causing operation of said unitentering means.

8. In a cyclically operable calculating machine, the combination ofactuating mechanism including differentially operable racks, an itemvalue accumulator movable in one direction into an operative relation tosaid racks to additively receive items therefrom, said accumulator beingmovable in another direction into another operative relation to saidracks tosubtractively receive items therefrom, an item counter movablewith said item value accumulator, a device movable with said item valueaccumulator for entering a unit into said item counter, and a controllerfor said device, said controller having a stroke of a predeterminedamount and being effective to engage and control said device when saiditem value accumulator is in said first mentioned operative relation,said controller being ineffective to engage said device when said itemvalue accumulator is in said other operative relation.

9. In a calculating machine, the combination of an accumulator dividedinto an item accumulating section and an item counting section,actuating mechanism including differentially operable racks for saidaccumulator; means for selectively moving said accumulator into anoperative relation to said racks to additively receive items therefromand for moving said accumulator into another operative relation to saidracks to subtractively receive items therefrom, a device movable withsaid accumulator for en tering a unit into said item counting section,and a controller for said device, said controller having a stroke of apredetermined amount and being effective to engage and control saiddevice when said accumulator is in said first mentioned operativerelation, said controller being ineffective to engage said device whensaid accumulator is in said other operative relation.

10. In a cyclically operable calculating machine, the combination ofactuating mechanism including differentially operable racks, an itemvalue accumulator movable in one direction into an operative relation tosaid racks to additively receive items therefrom, said accumulator beingmovable in another direction into another operative relation to saidracks to subtractively receive items therefrom, an item counter movablewith said item value accumulator, a device movable with said accumulatorfor entering a unit into said item counter, an actuator for said device,said actuator having a stroke of a predetermined amount and beingeffective to engage and actuate said device when said item valueaccumulator is in said first mentioned operative relation, said actuatorbeing ineffective to engage and actuate said device when said item valueaccumulator is in said other operative relation, drive means fOr saidactuator including a sensing device movable through a predetermined pathand adapted to be blocked from moving through said path by any of saidracks upon movement thereof, and means operatively connected to saidsensing device and operable only upon blocking of said sensing devicefor causing operation of said actuator.

11. In a cyclicall operable calculating machine, the combination of anitem Value accumulator, differentially operable actuating mechanismtherefor, an item counter, means for entering a unit into said itemcounter, power means, an operating device operated by said power means,said operating device having two output connections movabledifferentially with respect to each other, one of said connections beingnormally operable idly and arranged to be blocked by said actuatingmechanism upon operation thereof, and the other of said connectionsbeing inoperable upon said idle operation of said first-mentionedconnection and arranged to cause operation of said unit entering meansupon blocking of said first-mentioned connection, and means forselectively disabling said last-mentioned connection.

12. In a cyclically operable calculating machine, the combination of anitem value accumulator, actuating mechanism therefor includingdifferentially operable racks, an item counter, means for entering aunit into said item counter, a device for operating said unit enteringmeans comprising a member, means pivotally supporting said member, meansfor rocking said member about said pivotal supporting means, a bellcrank having two arms, means pivotally supporting said bell crankintermediate said arms on said member at a point spaced from saidfirst-mentioned pivotal supporting means, a fulcruming device pivotallyconnected to one of said arms, and arranged to normally move idlytherewith upon rocking of said member, said fulcrumin device beingarranged to be blocked by any of said rack upon movement thereof wherebyto fulcrum said bell crank about said pivotal connection, and anactuating device operatively connected to the other of said arms andarranged to cause operation of said unit entering means upon fulcruminof said bell crank about said pivotal connection.

ROBERT E. BOYDEN.

WHARTON A. PARSONS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,052,604 Christian et a1 Sept.1, 1936 2,056,536 Sampson Oct. 6, 1936 2,066,406 Lasker Jan. 5, 19372,277,851 Ganger Mar. 31, 1942 2,284,786 Williams June 2, 1942 2,308,144Anderson Jan. 12, 1942 2,314,156 Nyberg Mar, 16, 1946 FOREIGN PATENTSNumber Country Date 453,280 Great Britain 1936

